Back To Work...

Doctor appointment this Monday morning...  Everything is the SAME! The doctor has released me back to work starting tomorrow.  I'm ready to get back into a normal routine and get back on my feet!  I'm hoping the increase in activity will help Gracelyn ripen and get her here sooner than later.

Gracelyn rocking and rolling at 36 weeks

Gracelyn is one wild child. She had me up at 5am the other morning and I decided to video. Here is our little one on the move! After a few minutes of rocking and rolling she slowed down and gave herself the hiccups.  At the very end if you look close enough you can see her with the hiccups.  I'm sure going to miss feeling her roll around in my tummy... such an amazing feeling!

Enjoy

36 Weeks

36 Weeks! 

Gracelyn is getting closer and closer to being labeled a full term baby and not a preemie. At 37 weeks a baby is considered full term.  Just a few more days to go baby girl!  You can do it!  We had another follow up appointment Monday (July 30^th) and everything remains the same. The off and on contractions last week are normal and thankfully nothing produced any changes with my cervix.  I will go back Monday the 6^th and the Dr. will determine if I need to continue on modified bed rest.  If no changes I hope to get back to work, at least part time. We shall see…Having these last few weeks at home has been nice.  I have used the time to get the nursery complete and all Gracelyn’s stuff organized. I can definitely say I’ve been in the “nesting” phase these last few weeks.

Talk about excited!!!  Jake and I can hardly wait to see our baby girl for the first time.  Jake and I joke all the time now about when she’ll decide to come.  If she is anything like her mommy she’ll be late, BUT on the other hand, if she takes after her daddy she’ll be early (Jake is 15min early to everything).  I’m getting more and more excited about every upcoming appointment.  I will continue to get checked each week and at this point we are hoping for gradual changes.  Up to this point we have been doing everything possible to stall Gracelyn from coming early, but Dr. Harden reassured us that we are now at a point where the fear and panic can be replaced with excitement! We hope Gracelyn continues to move in the right direction and pray for a happy and healthy baby.

Here are a few pictures of the nursery!  Before and After:

                                                                      

                                                                 Testing paint colors

                                                                      Jake Painting

                                                                        AFTER:

                                                     Wreath I made for Gracelyn's Door :)

                                                                 Coming Home Outfit

                                                             Can't wait to play dress up!

We are 36 weeks so here is our weekly belly shot!

This could be my last week on modified bed rest so I decided to spend a few day's lying by the pool instead of on the couch… It was a very nice and relaxing change of scenery!

                                                                             My view :)

                                                                        Relaxing

                                                                Jake and Zach floating

                                                                   Abigail and Hailey

                                                      
                                                                Seth The Life Guard

We also took Gabe swimming this weekend!

Here is an update of the baby at 36 weeks:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position.

35 Weeks…

Grow Gracelyn Grow!  35 weeks today and Gracelyn is still hanging in there!  No changes from our Dr. visit on Monday. I did have some Braxton hicks contractions this afternoon but they never developed into a pattern or amounted to much.  After a few hours they tapered off and thankfully disappeared.  It’s very frustrating at this point because any little feeling I get sends me into a mild panic. I’m on high alert for anything that would resemble a contraction or sign of labor. There has been even more changes with my belly in the last week. Gracelyn has dropped noticeably within the last few days. We continue to pray that Gracelyn stays put for a few more weeks. We have our next doctor’s appointment scheduled for Monday.                                    

 35 Weeks (Gracelyn continues to drop)                                                              34 Weeks

 

  A BIG THANK YOU to Jackie and Jay for coming to Fuquay on Sunday.  Jackie, an OB nurse and Lamaze instructor, spent the day on Sunday preparing Zach, Abigail, Jake and I for D-Day. I recommend her class to anyone who is expecting a new baby.  She is so knowledgeable and we learned so much.

Happy Birthday Jake! 

Jake turned 29 on Wednesday!!!  We had dinner and cake to celebrate.  Thankfully Jake gets his own special day and Gracelyn didn’t surprise us. Mom came over and helped me bake Jake some peanut butter Reese cup cookies. They were awesome!!!  He also got a new pair of Sperry boat shoes.

                                                                            Make A Wish!

                                                                                   

                                                                  The Cookies!

Jake and I, Promise I didn't eat all those cookies... There is a baby in there!

And some added Prego Pudge!

                                           
                                                                    

                                                                         

Busy Weekend Ahead…

Saturday is Pamela and Coby’s baby shower. I’m really looking forward to this shower… There will be PIG! It’s a BBQ to shower Pamela and baby Carter.

Sunday is a joint shower for Abigail and me.  We are both pregnant with baby girls so bring on the PINK!

My plan this weekend is to enjoy all the festivities in a sitting/reclining position :)

Prego Pictures… Abigail was nice enough to take a few pregnancy pictures for us. We wanted to go ahead and get a few pictures of this baby belly before Gracelyn decides to pop out. Hopefully she decides to hang in there for another few weeks and gives us the oppurtunity to get some more pictures.

Changes are on the way!

The last few days have been a roller coaster ride for all of us. My blog has now turned into a diary as I begin to keep track of all the changes. I know many of our friends and family are concerned and want details, so I thought this will be a good way to keep everyone informed. I also want to have this for Gracelyn and me to read one day. Every baby has their own way of entering this world and I want to paint a picture of her special day! We have our list of family and friends to start the phone chain if anything alarming should happen. We ask everyone for prayers for baby Gracelyn. Thanks to each and every one of you for all your support. We love you all!

Thursday, July 12^th- very busy day at work, felt a lot of lower abdominal pressure, went to dinner with friends, and then to Kohl’s… as I was walking into Kohl’s I felt a sudden muscle pull in my belly. I didn’t think anything about it and kept shopping.  When I got home and changed into my PJ’s I noticed my belly looked a little different. When I look down now I can’t see my belly button.  My belly appears to have dropped. Gracelyn’s little butt which rides high near my upper ribs is now located mid belly. Jake looked at my belly and thinks the same… It appears Gracelyn may have dropped into the “birthing canal”.  This is a bit alarming for a first time mom. We are just turned 33 weeks.

Friday, July 13^th- I wake up and my belly still looks low. I get to work and ask some of my co-workers and they all agree Gracelyn has dropped. I get a little nervous because we have plans to leave for the beach (Nags Head) on Saturday. I called the OB just to see what they have to say. I was worried … is this too early for her to “drop”? The OB works me in for a 10:30am apt. I see Dr. Privette and she does a Fetal Fibronectin Test and a Cervical check.  I am a fingertip dilated and we will have to wait until the afternoon for my results from the FFT.  About 2:30pm I get a phone call from the OB nurse and she informs me that my test came back positive.  We were hoping for negative results.  Negative results are 99% that I will not go into labor within the next 14 days. A positive test however can be a little more indecisive.  The nurse tells me to pay attention to my body and be on the lookout for any signs of labor. The Dr. schedules a follow up appointment on Monday at 9:30am to recheck for dilation. I was given instructions to take it easy and drink plenty of fluids.

Fetal fibronectin is a protein that acts as a "glue" during pregnancy, attaching the amniotic sac — the fluid-filled membrane that cushions your baby in the uterus — to the lining of the uterus.

Fetal fibronectin is often present in cervical secretions during early pregnancy. Fetal fibronectin also shows up later in pregnancy, about one to three weeks before labor begins. If your health care provider is concerned about preterm labor, he or she may test a swab from your cervical canal for the presence of fetal fibronectin. A positive fetal fibronectin test is a clue that the "glue" has been disturbed and you're at increased risk of preterm labor.

When the fFN test is positive, it is an inconclusive result. A positive result can indicate that a woman will go into preterm labor soon, but she may not go into labor for weeks. When the fFN test is negative, the result is a better predictor. A negative result means that there is little possibility of preterm labour within the next 7 to 10 days, and the test can be repeated weekly for women who remain at high risk. A negative fetal fibronectin test gives a more than 95% likelihood of remaining undelivered for the next 2 weeks.^[2] A systematic review of the medical literature found that fetal fibronectin is a good predictor of spontaneous preterm birth before cervical dilation.^[3] The test may be run on patients between 22 and 35 weeks gestation.

Saturday/Sunday- It’s been a very l-o-n-g weekend. Everyone has left for the beach and we are waiting for Monday. I’m a bit stressed about what a positive FFT means Mom (grandma Baker) comes over and stays the night, helping clean, fold baby clothes, and helps to keep me comfortable.

Monday, July 16^th- Appointment with Dr. Harden.  Dr. Harden walks in and says, “We are still pregnant!” in a happy, but humorous, tone. He has been delivering babies for over 30 years. He is very experienced and I trust his judgment 100%. I am rechecked and remain a fingertip dilated and he notes that my cervix has started to thin (effacement). He does not give a percentage just makes the statement that it’s started to thin.

What is effacement?

Effacement is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix gradually softens, shortens and becomes thinner. You might hear phrases like "ripens," or "cervical thinning" which refer to effacement.

How is effacement measured?

Effacement is measured in percentages. For example, your health care provider may tell you that you are effaced 50%, which means you are half way to being completely effaced. When you are 100% effaced or completely effaced, your cervix is paper-thin and labor is right around the corner.

Dr. Harden also advises it is not a good idea to go to Nags Head and remain at home on the couch. He puts me on modified bed rest and schedules a follow up appointment for Monday July 23^rd. I did have a few questions for him:

Could the positive FFT indicate anything other than preterm labor?  No, it is just a sign that my body is preparing for delivery.

Is Betamethasone needed at this time? No, you are so close to 34 weeks you will be fine without it. After 34 weeks nothing is given for lung development or to stall labor. At 34 weeks we let your body do what it has been preparing for these last few months.

Betamethasone and dexamethasone cause an immature fetus's lungs to produce a compound called surfactant. A full-term baby's lungs naturally produce surfactant, which lubricates the lining of the air sacs within the lungs. This allows the inner surfaces of the air sacs to slide against one another without sticking during breathing. Premature infants whose lungs have begun producing surfactant are more able to breathe on their own, or with less respiratory treatment, after birth.

 Dr. Harden helps to reassure me that I can remain at this stage for weeks, but he does not hold a crystal ball and I could deliver as soon as tomorrow. Some good news is that Gracelyn is kicking and moving all over the place, her heart rate steady in the 140’s, and she measures at 33 weeks. This is good evidence she is doing just fine in my belly, but maybe she is just a little stubborn like her mommy and wants to come out and play. 

Tuesday Night July, 17th: Around 6:30 I experience a lot of tightening in my belly and it is somewhat alarming. I’m not doing anything at this point but sitting on the couch watching TV. It goes away within a few seconds and I think probably just a Braxton hick contraction. About an hour later I get up to go to the bathroom and my belly suddenly gets tight and hard… this is definitely different than an hour ago. My entire belly is rock hard and you can see through my dress my belly tighten and contract. I immediately go lie down on my left side and start to drink lots of water. What feels to me like a contraction last for about 60 seconds and then my belly returns to a soft round baby belly.  The tightening, all over hard belly returns 2 more times when I stand to go to the bathroom. I get right back in bed and both times the sensation lasts for about a minute. The final straw:  I am lying in bed and the tightening begins with no movement this time. I get my phone out and again it last for about 60 seconds. I call Jackie (Jeff’s mom- who is an OB nurse) She advises me to continue what I’m doing and with my current situation it wouldn’t be a bad idea to call the Dr. and let them know what’s going on. I call the OB and Dr. Wheeler advises me to come in to get checked out. We arrive at Wake Med around 10:00pm- it was such a smooth process. They are ready for me as soon as I walk in the ER and up to triage I go. The nurse is standing at the door as I exit the elevator and she starts the work up within seconds. Gracelyn is all hooked up with no signs of contractions, her heart rate stable, and all looks good. Dr. Wheeler is in a delivery and comes to see me within the hour. I’m rechecked and remain a fingertip dilated, but now am  75% effaced. Dr. Wheeler then decides since I’m not quite 34 weeks the Betamethasone is a good idea. My first injection is given in the hospital and after a few more hours of monitoring we are on our way home. Dr. Wheeler lets us know at this point if things continue to progress after 34 weeks they will not do anything to stall labor. At this stage in the game the outlook is safe for a delivery with some assistance from NICU. A follow up appointment is scheduled with the OB office for Thursday morning at 11:00am where I will be rechecked and my last dose of Betamethasone will be given.

I want to think all of our family and friends for being so supportive during this time. Everyone has been so thoughtful and so many prayers have been sent for baby Gracelyn. We are truly blessed to have such an awesome support system. We could not do this without each one of you. It has definitely been a roller coaster ride these last few days and I don’t plan for anything to slow down at this point. The only thing we can do at this time is put this in the Lord’s hands and continue to pray.  The positives from our adventure last night; We had a trial run to the hospital, know the shortcut to the hospital and do not have to rely on the GPS, have another day to pack a hospital bag and get a check list together, and most important a round of steroids on board and no baby yet.

Jake and his Garden

Jake is feeding me and this little baby with some fresh fruit and veggies this summer! He has one beautiful garden full of cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, banana peppers, and watermelon. Today he picked his first tomato and watermelon of the season! Below are some pictures to show off all his hard work!

We sure are enjoying the vegetables out of Jake’s garden. Our new favorite is fried squash and zucchini. The recipe we use is: ½ Zatarain’s seafood breader, ½ flour, garlic salt, and black pepper.  Dip sliced or wedged veggies in egg, shake in breader, then fry up nice and brown! Yum Yum!

Gracelyn sure is getting BIG she has a little over 7 weeks to ripen! Here is a belly picture of us at 32 and 1/2 weeks.  

Happy Father’s Day!  Jake had his first Father’s Day this year J He is so excited and I can’t wait for him to hold his baby girl for the first time. He is going to be such an awesome dad! Gracelyn is one lucky little girl to have Jake as her daddy and I have a feeling he is going to be wrapped around her little finger.  Gracelyn bought her daddy a brand new Dewalt cordless drill for Father’s Day.  Attached was a “daddy to do list” from Gracelyn. The list included stuff like constructing a tree house, installing training wheels, building a doll house … and anything else Gracelyn wants. Below is a picture of Jake with his new drill.

Lindsay and Robert had their baby girl on June 7th. Her name is Lydia Marlynn Powell. She was 8lbs and 20 ½ in. What a cute little baby J She is so sweet! We can’t tell exactly who she looks like just yet, but she is looking more like Robert every day.  Holding Lydia makes me so excited about meeting my sweet baby girl.

Summer has arrived! We spent the day on the lake with Matt, Stacy, and Declan. We had so much fun on the “big water” as Declan calls it. Declan makes one cute picture!

With summer comes the heat and humidity. It’s been a HOT start to the summer! The high for our first baby shower on Saturday was 106! The temperature sure didn’t put a damper on Gracelyn’s party!! Laura and Christin hosted our shower on Saturday and the theme was an Ice Cream Party! What a perfect idea for a pregnant lady. They set up an ice cream bar with homemade ice cream and all kinds of toppings. Gracelyn is one loved little baby! She got so many clothes and toys! We had about 35-40 people show up to celebrate. A BIG Thank You to Mrs. Jenkins for opening her home up to all our friends and family and to Laura and Christin for all their hard work.  We also want to thank all of our friends and family for attending and all the beautiful gifts.  It was a perfect day! Below are some pictures of the fun!

Kim and Phillip also came in town this past week. It was a lot of fun seeing Kim with a baby belly and being able to feel my little nephew kick and move all around. Anthony and Gracelyn are due within 4 weeks of each other. It has been exciting being able to share this experience with my sister. I just wish they lived a little closer! Aunt Cindi hosted a joint baby shower for Kim and me on Sunday. The church was filled with all kinds of pink and blue! Anthony and Gracelyn are spoiled rotten already. I think my favorite part was eating cake! The cake was beautiful and some kind of yummy! Thanks to everyone for all the gifts and we can’t wait to share these sweet babies with you all!

We are now 32 weeks pregnant! It won’t be long now!! Gracelyn is as active as ever. She makes us laugh all the time as she stretches and morphs my belly into all kinds of shapes. Just a few weeks ago we had our 3D ultrasound! Gracelyn was awesome and was a little show off. We got some really good pictures and videos. She is so CUTE!

Pregnancy at 32 weeks:

What's up with your baby? She's starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at almost four pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. In these past few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. And speaking of sucking, your little one has been able to suck her thumb for a while now. Something else to note: As more and more fat accumulates under your baby's skin, she's becoming less transparent and more opaque.

Your Body in Week 32 of Pregnancy

This week, your body may start prepping for delivery day by flexing its muscles — literally. If you feel your uterus bunching or hardening periodically, those are practice contractions, otherwise known as Braxton Hicks. These rehearsals  feel like a tightening sensation that begins at the top of your uterus and then spreads downward, lasting from 15 to 30 seconds (though they can sometimes last two minutes or more). How do you know these contractions aren’t the real thing? They’ll stop if you change position (try getting up if you’re lying down or walking if you’ve been sitting).

Speaking of practice! I definitely felt a few Braxton Hicks contractions this morning at work. Nothing painful, just a little uncomfortable/tight... Gracelyn continued to kick and move all around so I didn’t let it worry me. I’m okay with my uterus getting all the practice it needs… I want it well trained and ready to pop out a baby in the next few weeks!

 Here are a few other recent pictures... Enjoy!